<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000202679
<NAME> PIONEER TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 003
   <NAME> PIONEER TAX-FREE INCOME FUND CLASS C
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        402541848
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       424232590
<RECEIVABLES>                                  9793388
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   38222
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               434064200
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       6051660
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      2012733
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            8064393
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     398703952
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            75406
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            32213
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                         (46023)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        5651136
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      21690742
<NET-ASSETS>                                 425999807
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             12718294
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (1983384)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       10734910
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       3385216
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    (1716971)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         12403155
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (15200)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          42041
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                         69
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                               1221
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      (20907667)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      2265920
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          1028166
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                2028567
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            712216
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.88
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.06
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.25)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.94
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.66
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>